this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2025
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[–] ronigami@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (7 children)

Meanwhile I installed the User Agent Switcher extension for firefox to change my user agent every 30 seconds to something random to avoid tracking. A few websites don’t accept it. I just quit those websites and find a non-billionaire-owned alternative like Kagi or Fastmail. So far it’s working out well.

[–] blurb@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 day ago (6 children)

That likely makes you easier to track. User agents don't really matter all that much if an advanced tracking script is used. When your IP address is the same, your browser engine is the same, your canvas data stays the same, your window size stays the same, your operating system stays the same, then they will just know that you also use an extension that makes your user agent not reflect your system and track you based on that too.

Use Mullvad Browser without changing anything important (change the default search engine at most) and preferably use a proper VPN to actually avoid tracking during regular internet usage. Or use LibreWolf to at least fool naive scripts.

I would suggest reading this too:
https://github.com/arkenfox/user.js/wiki/3.3-Overrides-%5BTo-RFP-or-Not%5D

[–] Simulation6@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

YT forces me to login if I am using a VPN these days, if I use Firefox or Safari. Brave avoids this. I will have to try Mullvad.

[–] blurb@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

Try a different VPN server if you get the "Sign in to confirm you're not a bot" error. If you're using Mullvad VPN, the Netherlands Amsterdam 203 server should work.

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